a fall happens only once in a lifetime to men like yourself, and the chief thing is, to take it gracefully when the chance presents itself.
 Alexandre Dumas, The Vicomte of Bragelonne (1847). copy citation

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Author Alexandre Dumas
Source The Vicomte of Bragelonne
Topic present chance
Date 1847
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2759/2759-h/2759-h.htm

Context

“and when my turn comes, I shall fall perfectly straight, all in a heap, still alive, after having selected my place beforehand. Do as I do, Monsieur Fouquet, you will not find yourself the worse for it; a fall happens only once in a lifetime to men like yourself, and the chief thing is, to take it gracefully when the chance presents itself. There is a Latin proverb—the words have escaped me, but I remember the sense of it very well, for I have thought over it more than once—which says, ‘The end crowns the work!’” Fouquet rose from his seat, passed his arm round D’Artagnan’s neck, and clasped him in a close embrace, whilst with the other hand he pressed his hand.” source